Tamper-proof container and cap assembly and related methods

ABSTRACT

A tamper-proof container and cap assembly is provided, comprising a container having an upper portion and an outer surface. The container has a rim at the upper portion. The upper portion includes a flexible and detachable protrusion having a contact element and a break point. The container also has a cap having a base with an outer periphery and a skirt extending perpendicularly and outwardly around the outer periphery of the base. The cap has a hinge and a tap with a first and second slot wherein the first slot is capable of housing the protrusion, and the second slot has an interlocking device that mates with the protrusion. In an empty stage, the protrusion is positioned within the first slot. In a filled stage, the cap is placed upon the container and the protrusion is repositioned within the second slot and the contact element engages the interlocking device to form a tamper-proof seal.

[0001] This application is a Divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 09/710,330,filed Nov. 9, 2000.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0002] This application is claiming benefit to the prior filedprovisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60/164,807 filed, Nov. 10, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a tamper-proof container and capassembly and related methods by tamper-proofing a container and capassembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is desirable to provide a container and cap assembly that canproduce a tamper-proof seal. For example, during forensic and laboratoryapplications such as drug and alcohol testing, uses of such containersdesire a tamper-proof seal to establish the integrity of the specimens.Consequently the so-called “chain of custody” of the contents of thecontainer is visually maintained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention relates to a tamper-proof container and capassembly comprising a container and a cap. The purpose of the presentinvention is to produce a container that allows a user to fill thecontainer with the desired material (e.g. blood, urine). Subsequently,the user closes the cap of the container and engages a tamper-proofindicator.

[0006] In one embodiment, the container has an upper portion and anouter surface. The container has a rim at the upper portion. The upperportion of the container includes a flexible and detachable protrusionhaving a contact element and a break point. In another embodiment, thecap has a base with an outer periphery and a skirt extendingperpendicularly and outwardly around the outer periphery of the base.The cap also has a hinge and a tab extending perpendicularly andoutwardly from the skirt of the cap. In still another embodiment, thetop has a least two slots capable of housing the protrusion. In yetanother embodiment, the tap has a first slot and a second slot includingan interlocking device for engaging with the protrusion.

[0007] In a further embodiment, when the container is in an empty stage,the protrusion is positioned within the first slot. In still a furtherembodiment, when the container is in a filled stage, the cap is placedupon the container and the protrusion is repositioned within the secondslot causing the contact element of the protrusion to engage theinterlocking device of the second slot and thus to form a tamper-proofseal. For purposes of this invention, the term “empty stage” refers to astage when the container is empty prior to filling. For example, whenthe container is shipped to a laboratory from the manufacturer of thecontainer. The term “filling stage” refers to a stage after thecontainer has been filled with its content. In one embodiment, thecontents may include specimens such as blood samples, urine samples orother bodily fluids of a patient. In yet another embodiment, theprotrusion is formed in such a way that, if the cap is opened (i.e.tampered with), the protrusion will break off and thus, evidence oftampering with the container will be evident by the broken protrusion.It will be appreciated that it may not be possible to replace theprotrusion once it has broken, since the protrusion is formed integrallywith the container. Therefore, it should not be possible to defeat thetamper- proof capabilities by replacing the original broken protrusion.It will also be appreciated that the interlocked protrusion not onlyprovides tamper-proof function, but also may aid in preventingdislodgement of the cap during transport.

[0008] For purposes of the present invention, the phrase “tamper-proofseal” means a visual indication that: (a) when not broken, the container's cap has not been opened; and (b) when broken, the container cap hasbeen opened and thus, visually displays that the container was tamperedwith.

[0009] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a methodof tamper-proofing a container and a cap assembly by: (a) providing acontainer have an upper portion and an outer surface, the upper portionhaving a flexible and a detachable protrusion having a contact elementand a break point; and a cap having a base with an outer periphery and askirt extending perpendicularly and outwardly around the outer peripheryof the base, the cap has a hinge and a tab extending perpendicularly andoutwardly from the skirt of the cap, the tab comprising a first andsecond slot capable of housing the protrusion, the second slot having aninterlocking device; (b) positioning the protrusion within the firstslot in an empty stage; (c) opening the cap and filling the container;and (d) closing the cap upon the container and repositioning theprotrusion within the second slot thereby allowing the contact elementof the protrusion to engage the interlocking device to from atamper-proof seal.

[0010] In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises applyinga sufficient frontal, upward force upon the tab to allow theinterlocking device of the slot to engage the contact element of theprotrusion and thus to detach the protrusion from the flange at thebreak point to thereby breach the seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

[0011] A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many ofthe attendant advantages thereof will be readily understood by referenceto the following description was considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of thetamper-proof container and cap assembly of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is an overhead plan view of one embodiment of the containerand cap assembly in an opened position;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of the presentinvention of the container and cap assembly in an empty stage;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of one embodiment of the presentinvention of the container and cap assembly in a filled stage;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a blow-up of one embodiment of the present invention ofthe protrusion of the flange of the container in the empty stage; and

[0017]FIG. 6 is a blow-up of one embodiment of the present invention ofthe protrusion of the flange of the container in the filled stage.

[0018] Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed,other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. The drawings constitute a part of this specification andinclude exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustratevarious embodiments and features thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0019] Referring now to the drawings wherein like references designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and moreparticularly to FIG. 1 wherein one embodiment of the tamper-proofcontainer and cap assembly 1 of the present invention is illustrated.The assembly 1 comprises a container 10 having a base 16, or internalcavity 15, and outer surface 12 and an upper portion 11. The container10 has a rim 13 at the upper portion 11. The container 10 also has aflange 14 extending radially outwardly from the outer surface 12 of thecontainer 10. A detachable protrusion 20 with a contact element 21 and abreak point 22 is located at or near flange 14. The assembly 1 alsoincludes a cap 30 having a base 31. The cap 30 also has a tab 40 and ahinge 34. The tab 40 has a first and second slot 41 and 42 respectively,capable of housing the protrusion 20. The second slot 42 comprises aninterlocking device 43.

[0020] The hinge 34 is also attached at or near the container flange 14.In one embodiment, the hinge 34 has a recess 35 that function as abinding point for ease of opening and closing of the container 10.

[0021] Suitable material for assembly 10 includes plastic (e.g.thermoplastic, such as polypropylene and polyethylene). In anembodiment, the cap 30 and the container 10 may be integrally molded ofthe plastic to form a hinge 34 there between. In another embodiment, thecap 30 and the container 10 may be produced in a molding process and, instill another embodiment, may be molded in accordance with the moldsimilar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,783,056 and 4,812,116respectively. In a further embodiment, with such a process and mold, theassembly, including the cap, container and hinge may be produced inaccordance with the operation disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,783,056 and4,812,116 or, in another embodiment, may be produced in accordance withU.S. Pat. No. 5,723,085. The disclosure of these patents areincorporated by reference herein.

[0022]FIG. 2 refers to an overhead plan view of the assembly 10 of thepresent invention in an opened position. The assembly 10 includes thecontainer 10 and the cap 30 connected by the hinge 34. The container 10has the cavity 15, the rim 13 and the flange 14. The cap 30 includes thecircular base 31 and the tab 40. The tab 40 includes a first slot 41 andsecond slot 42. The hinge 34 has a recess 35 and two elements, 37 and 38respectively. The first element 37 is attached to the flange 14 of thecontainer 10 and second element 38 is attached to the cap 30.

[0023]FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 depict one embodiment of the present inventionof the container and cap assembly 1 the empty stage prior to filling.The container 10 has a flange 14 which includes protrusion 20. Theprotrusion 20 has a u-shaped element 25. The protrusion 20 has a contactelement 21 and a break point 22. In the empty stage, the contact element21 of the protrusion 20 is situated in the first slot 41 of the top 40of the cap 30. It is understood that other designs of first slot 41 arecontemplated. The only design requirement of first slot 41 is that itserves the purpose of holding protrusion 20 in place during handling andprior to the filling stage. As such, protrusion 20 is protected fromaccidentally being torn off prior to engaging protrusion 20 withinterlocking device 43. There is a space between the protrusion 20 andthe stop rib 26 and the second slot 42 with the interlocking device 43remaining empty.

[0024]FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 illustrates the container and cap assembly 1 ofthe present invention in the filled stage. The cap 30 is placed upon thecontainer 10 and the protrusion 20 is repositioned with the second slot42. The contact element 21 of the protrusion 20 engages the interlockingdevice 43 of the second slot 42 of the tab 40 to form a tamper-proofseal. The stop rib 26 restricts the movement of the protrusion 20.

[0025] Subsequently, a user would break the tamper-proof seal byapplying sufficient frontal upward force to allow the interlockingdevice 43 of the second slot 42 to engage the contact element 21 of thesecond slot 42 and to engage the contact element 21 of the protrusion 20to detach the protrusion 20 from the flange 14 at the break point 22.

[0026] It is understood that the design of break point 22 is such that,when sufficient frontal upward force is applied to the cap to open thevial, the protrusion must fail (e.g break) at break point 22 prior toany failure between the engagement of protrusion 20 with interlockingdevice 43. Consequently, in one embodiment, break point 22 width issufficiently narrow to break when sufficient frontal upward force isapplied to open the vial while, at the same time, is sufficientlyflexible and of suitable design to allow for: (a) protrusion 20 to bemoved from the first slot to the second slot without breakage; and (b)protrusion 20 to remain engaged with interlocking device 43 whilesufficient force is applied to open the vial and break at break point22.

[0027] Interlocking device 43 may be any design that is able to directlymate with protrusion 20 and remain engaged even when sufficient frontalforce is applied to cause a break at break point 22. Such interlockingdevices may include teeth, flexible projections and suitable wedge-likeshapes.

[0028] Numerous modification and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above discussion.

[0029] It will be appreciated that many modifications and othervariations that will be appreciated by those skilled in the art withinthe intended scope of this invention without departing from theteachings, spirit and intended scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tamper-proofed container and cap assemblycomprising: a container having an upper portion and an outer surface,said container having a rim at said upper portion, a detachableprotrusion, which is located at the upper portion, having a contactelement and a break point; a cap having a base with an outer peripheryand a skirt extending perpendicularly and outwardly around said outerperiphery of said base; said cap having a hinge and tab extendingperpendicularly and outwardly from said skirt of said cap; said tabcomprises at least a first and second slot capable of housing saidprotrusion; said second slot comprising an interlocking device; and inan empty stage, said protrusion is positioned within said first slot;and in a filled stage, said cap is placed upon said container and saidprotrusion is repositioned within said second slot and said contactelement of said protrusion engages said interlocking device to form atamper-proof seal.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said protrusionhas upper and lower ends, said contact element being positioned at saidupper end and said point being positioned at said lower end.
 3. Theassembly of claim 1 wherein said cap has a circular base and acylindrical tubular skirt.
 4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said taband said hinge are position at opposing ends of said cap.
 5. Theassembly of claim 1 wherein a frontal, upward force causes saidprotrusion to detach from said break point to thereby break said seal.6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said hinge is attached to saidcontainer flange.
 7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said skirt of saidcap overlies said container and said rim of said container when saidcontainer is closed after said filling stage.
 8. The assembly of claim 7wherein said skirt of said cap is designed to overlie and sit upon saidcontainer flange when said container is closed after said filling stage.9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said flange comprises a stop ribsituated adjacent to said protrusion.
 10. The assembly of claim 1wherein said cap and said container and molded of plastic.
 11. Theassembly of claim 10 wherein said cap and said container are integrallymolded of said plastic to form a hinge there between.
 12. The assemblyof claim 1 wherein said cap is pre-fit to said rim of said containerduring said closed position.
 13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein saidhinge has a recess, said recess forms two elements, one element beingattached to said skirt of said cap and said second element beingattached to said container; said recess functions as a bending pointduring the opening and closing of said container.
 14. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein said protrusion comprises a u-shaped element having twolegs, one of said legs being attached to said flange and said other legbeing a detachable leg having said contact element.
 15. A method oftamper-proofing a container and cap assembly, comprising: (a) providinga container having an upper portion and an outer surface, said upperportion having a detachable protrusion having a contact element and abreak point; a cap having a base with an outer periphery and a skirtextending perpendicularly and outwardly around said outer periphery ofsaid base; and cap having a hinge and tab extending perpendicularly andoutwardly from said skirt of said cap; said tab comprises at least afirst and second slot capable of housing said protrusion; said secondslot comprising an interlocking device; and (b) positioning saidprotrusion with said first slot in an empty stage; (c) opening said capand filling said container; (d) closing said cap upon said container andrepositioning said protrusion within said second slot thereby allowingsaid protrusion to engage said interlocking device to form atamper-proof seal.